The No. 1 most popular post at my site is Start Here: How to Get Your Book Published. After nearly three years, I’m happy to say I’ve expanded and fully updated it.
If you already know the ins and outs of how to get a book published, then I hope you’ll share this post with a friend who might be new to writing or book publishing. It’s especially handy for times when you’re asked, “How do I get a book published?” and you don’t even know where to start. My advice is geared toward the beginner who needs to understand the basic steps involved—from assessing commercial potential to researching agents and editors to submitting queries (and beyond).
Jane Friedman (@JaneFriedman) has 20 years of experience in the publishing industry, with expertise in digital media strategy for authors and publishers. She is the publisher of The Hot Sheet, the essential newsletter on the publishing industry for authors, and was named Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World in 2019.
In addition to being a columnist for Publishers Weekly, Jane is a professor with The Great Courses, which released her 24-lecture series, How to Publish Your Book. Her book for creative writers, The Business of Being a Writer (University of Chicago Press), received a starred review from Library Journal.
Jane speaks regularly at conferences and industry events such as BookExpo America, Digital Book World, and the AWP Conference, and has served on panels with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Creative Work Fund. Find out more.